Ranchi: Former Jharkhand CM and currently MP of Lok Sabha, Arjun Munda has been appointed as the national General Secretary of the Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP). The wings of former minister in the Bajpaye cabinet Yashwant Sinha was clipped for his statement against the Party lines. He along with former MPRam Tehal Chudhary, Sunil Singh and Louis Marandi were nominated only as members in the National Committee of the Party. The new team of BJP president Nitin Gadkari reflects the power of ‘Sangh’ behind the nominations.

In tone with the Women’s Reservation Bill, Gadkari’s team has 33% posts for women members. Vasundhara Raje is the only female National General Sedretary. Other prominent names include Hema Malini, Kiran Ghai, Najma Heptullah and Vijaya Chakravorthy. Out of the six Party Spokespersons post, Nirmala Sitaraman is the lone female.Of the total 83 member working committee 26 seats have gone to the women members.

Gadkari’s step in this direction is bound to have its impact in the other political Parties too. Congress in all likelihood would follow suit.

On hearing the news of Arjun Munda’s elevation in the Party, the Mahanagar BJP was in celebration mood. City president Gama Singh told the media that a fitting welcome would be given to Arjun Munda when he arrives in the State capital on Wednesday. Thousands of workers will be present at the Birsa Munda Airport in Ranchi to welcome their leader.

Ranchi: An RJD delegation led by Secretary Dr. Manoj Kumar met the Governor M O H Farook and presented a memorandum to him demanding CBI inquiry into the assets of all the previous CMs and the Ministers since the formation of the new State. They also demanded that the relief work in the drought affected areas be speeded up. The memorandum also included the demand of correcting the abnormalities in the BPL list at the earliest so that the benefits of all the schemes could be passed on. They demanded early announcement of dates for the Panchayat elections. The delegation included Khuda Ram, Manoj Kumar Pandey, Ram Kumar Yadav and Pravan Kumar.

Meanwhile another delegation led by Ashok Bhagat of Vikas Bharti too met the Governor and submitted a memorandum to him for early Panchayat elections in the State. Vikas Bharti members earlier demonstrated outside the Raj Bhavan before the meeting.

Ranchi: The stormy budget session of the Jharkhand Assembly is gaining momentum every passing day. Even today the House witnessed heated exchanges between the opposition and ruling members.The issue of overloading and underhand dealings of the Mobile squad and DTO reached a crescendo when Congress legislator Yogendra Sav accused Minister Neelkant Singh Munda of being a party to these shady deals and alleged that the Mobile Inspector had confessed that the illegal collection was being sent to the minister’s house. The agitated opposition members rushed to the well of the House demanding clarification.

The entire treasury bench stood up and demanded an unconditional apology from Sav. Sav was in mood to relent and even threatened to produce evidence supporting his claim. Only after the intervention of Leader of opposition Rajendra Singh & Pradeep Yadav the matter subsided with the Speaker ruling the allegation contents to be struck off the records. The Speaker further advised the members to restrain themselves from making off the cuff allegations.

The House however was unanimous in agreeing that malpractices in the overloading sector did exist and the government assured the House that stern action will be taken against the offenders.

Binod Singh wondered when both the opposition and treasury bench agreed on the issue, then what is preventing the minister from taking action. Raghubar Das said that the Mobile Team had grown in confidence in the past three years of UPA regime and his government would put a stop to all corrupt practices henceforth.

Briefs
Opposition demonstrates outside the House

RJD legislator Annapoorna Devi, Bandhu Tirkey, Arup Chatterjee and Sanjay Yadav demonstrated outside the Vidan Sabha demanding opening of Engineering College in all District Headquarters, confirmation of Para-teachers and stop termination of services of BRP-CRP jawans. They also demanded free education upto the graduation level for all female candidates

Banks’ high-handed attitude condemned

JVM’s Pradeep Yadav raised the issue of the banks’ high handed attitude in disbursing the PMRY funds to desirous candidates. On FM Raghubar Das’s reply that a amicable solution was being worked out with the banks and he had recently held meeting with top officials of Bank of India in Deoghar and Ranchi, Pradeep Yadav wanted to know whether the guilty officers be punished, the FM replied in affirmative.

MLA sits on Dharna- pacified

Congress MLA Yogendra Sav sat on Dharna outside the Assembly demanding transfer of Badkagaon BDO. On the Speaker’s instruction Dy.CM Raghubar Das and leader of opposition Rajendra Singh pacified him with appropriate action and escorted him inside the House.

Ranchi: For the past three days the Capital of Jharkhand had serious server problems, mainly with the so called modems connectivity getting a step motherly treatment to the broadband users. Innumerable coimplaints were practically falling on deaf ears. None of the BSNL officials were forthcoming asto when the situation would regain its normalcy.

The same was the case with the JSEB today. The hapless citizens were caught unawares with frequent power cuts without a plausible explanation. On one hand the Dy.CM & Energy minister claims that the Power sitruation is under control on the other hand the Ranchiites are faced with severe power cuts ranging from one hour to even three hours at a stretch. When contacted, conveniently the mobile phones of the Chairman, Director Techinical and in-charge Technical operations are on the switch off mode. The frustrated citizens are lefgt hanging with the no win situation.
The government has been making just promises galore without any feeling of remorse, guilt or conscience.

Is there somebody who is really answerable in such situations? Or is the State going to be run on the vague promises of politicians and whimsical moods of the JSEB personnel. The question deems an plausible answer!

Ranchi: Congress-JVM led opposition created uproarious scenes in the Assembly today. The legislators from these Parties even rushed to the well of the House after the Speaker C. P. Singh once again declined their demand for discussion on the matter relating to the CBI probe into the various scams.

The leader of opposition in the House Rajendra Singh and JVM’s Pradeep Yadav demanded that a CBI probe be initiated in the matters related to corruption and corrupt practices. They wanted the CBI to probe into the accumulation of assets by all those in power since the inception of the State.

For the first time ever, the opposition MLAs walked into the Assembly Hall brandishing placards and posters demanding the CBI probe. The Speaker had to summon the services of the Marshall to snatch the placards and posters from the agitating members. A Marshal was pressed into service for the first time in the Jharkhand Assembly.

JVM’s Samresh Singh in a fit of rage passed remarks on the Speaker itself, terming him as incapable for the post. The treasury Bench reacted vociferously and demanded stern action against the veteran opposition member. The matter however got resolved after JVM’s leader in the House, Pradeep Yadav apologised on Samresh’s behalf and later Samresh Singh too apologised.

The Speaker warned Samresh Singh that he would not be allowed to rush to the well of the House on his whim. He also cautioned the opposition to exercise their rights in the House justifiably and not stall the proceedings as a daily routine.

Congress workers ‘Gherao’ Vidan Sabha- attempt gate crashing

Ranchi: Protesting the policies of the State government, thousands of Congress workers from all parts of the State ‘gheraoed’ the Vidan Sabhaon Monday. They were demanding complete roll back on the hiked VAT on petrol and diesel, CBI probe into all the scams and a clear and transparent stand on the naxal issue. The leaders accused the government of shielding the corrupt persons by not initiating the CBI probe.
The leaders were also demanding the Palamu Division to be named as drought ridden and special package ear marked for relief work.
Later the workers attempted in vain to gate crash into the Vidan Sabha premises but it was foiled by the alert police force, which resorted to spraying strong bursts of coloured water on the protestors to disperse them.
The gherao was led by State Congress president Pradeep Balmuchu, K. Keshav Rao, Abdul Mannan and others. Pradeep Balmuchu demanded early announcement of the Panchayat election dates. The CM Shibu Soren had announced in the House that the Panchayat elections would be held before the monsoon season, but nothing has been done in that direction till now, though a week has passed after his assurance.

Briefs:
Shibu Soren skips CM question hour
CM Shibu Soren was not present in the Assembly for the CM question hour slated for Mondays. The Speaker has assured to allot another day in this week for the same. JVM’s Pradeep Yadav wondered loudly as to why the CM falls sick only on important days. He accused the CM of avoiding addressing the problems of the State’s populace.
Chandra Shekar stages ‘fast’ protest outside the House
Congress leader sat on hunger strike outside the Assembly to demand reinstation and compensation for the 74 workers removed by Tata owned colliery at Jamadoba in Dhanbad district. He later relented after being pacified by Dy.CMs Raghubar Das and Sudesh Mahto. Dubey was assured by the Speaker C. P. Singh that the problem would be resolved amicably.

|| Not a single case referred to police since independence! ||
Ranchi/Latehar: The scenario is right out of a bollywood blockbuster! The surroundings more or less similar to that of Amitabh Bacchan starred super hit ‘Suryavansham’ and later an Anil Kapoor mega hit on the same lines.

Lalgarhi is an unknown village in the Latehar District of Jharkhand under the Haintochara Panchayat. A small village of 150 houses with around 800 inhabitants has been enjoying the rule of ‘Ram Rajya’. Not a single case of theft has been reported in the village and remarkably, since independence the villagers have not approached a police station and not a single case registered for any offence in it! Amazing and unbelievable but true!

Except for two families of Harijans and ‘Lohars’(Blacksmiths) the entire village comprises of people from scheduled tribes, the Kharwars! If it so happens that a villager per chance loses his belonging at any place in the village, the same gets retrieved and deposited at the Village Head’s house to be collected by the owner at his convenience.

The (Gram Pradhan) Village Head Rameshwar Singh Kharwar states in a matter of fact manner that there are hardly any problems within the village and if some minor problem does arise it is amicably settled by the village panchayat itself. He added that it has been made mandatory for at least one person from a family to be present at such panchayat meetings. The Panchayat is held regularly once a week. An explanation call is made on any absentee to state a valid reason for absence.

The Village Supremo added that cases pertaining to witch-hunting/practicing, minor squabbles, land dispute or objectionable love affairs normally figured at the weekly panchayat meetings and were settled amicably and unanimously. He recollected that since his childhood he had never heard an incident of robbery or theft in the village.

Most of the proved offenses were so minor that it evoked only a penalty of Rs.50 which in turn was passed on to the informer of the crime. Ex chief minister Madhu Koda in appreciation of the village code had rewarded the Gram Pradhan Rameshwar Singh with Rs.15000 which he utilized for the well being of the villagers. The Village Head added that if a youth of the village ran short of funds for developing his career, the villagers would pool the required amount to see the youth through. The youth would conscientiously repay the amount to the Gram Pradhan at the earliest.

The village panchayat has the right to boycott a villager not heeding to the panchayat judgment but as of date not even a single case has emerged for this punishment, added Rameshwar Singh.
Lalgarhi is an ideal example of a rural Jharkhand village committed to development. The law of the country and the State is followed to a Tee and every rural development program is religiously completed in the village. The village had no schools till ‘85and no connecting roads till ’88. Now with the awareness instilled in the villagers, the village has Power, roads, water and irrigation facilities for their needs. The green fields around the village are enough proof. Paru Singh, a 70year old senior citizen of the village states that the villagers had never found the need of any outside intervention on any matter. The entire village lived like a joint family. There are bound to be minor squabbles in a joint family which is resolved by the head of the family, our Gram Pradhan. The pride with which these words were uttered reflected the harmony prevailing in the village.

Namki Devi recollects the day she forget her ‘batua’ (a cloth pouch containing money and small knick-knacks) while washing her face at the pond side. The pouch contained nearly Rs.300. Hardly had she reached her house, a boy came running to inform her that her pouch was deposited with the Gram Pradhan. Not a penny was missing from the bag.

Paru Singh & Tulsi Singh Kharwar’s sons had graduated as engineers and the happy fathers speak at length on the villagers’ unity and brotherhood

The village has its own centre for registration of birth/death within 21 days at the Panchayat Head’s office. The male & female child are treated at par and education made compulsory for them in the village school from the primary level itself. The village is proud of the fact that it has produced two engineers.

It is a wonder that the naxalite infested area of Latehar has such an ideal village and even the extremists prefer to stay away from them. At the same time it is also sad and unfortunate that the District Administration is yet to take a note of it and reward it accordingly by naming it as model village.

Jharkhand desperately needs more Lalgarhis to improve its tarnished image.

- P. Vijay Raghavan

Ranchi: The State Home Guard personnel went on a rampage after being denied meeting with the CM Shibhu Soren to address their demands. The agitated personnel blocked the busy Albert Ekka Chowk and in a fit of anger and frustration damaged nearby shops. This led to a scuffle and exchange of fisticuffs. Many jawans were hurt. They were in no mood to relent and the pleading of senior police officials. The police had to call for additional forces to disperse the unruly personnel.

Meanwhile, Shubu Soren reiterated that he would fulfill all the promises made. The demands of the home Guards are being looked into and a amicable solution would be found. The CM was addressing the members of Home Guards and other social organizations at the Jaipal Singh Stadium. The Home Guards were assured of an meeting with the CM later but was cancelled at the last moment, leading to the violent demonstration including overturning of the chairs at the venue and later marching to the main road.

Ranchi: Thousands of Congressmen would gherao the Vidan sabha on Monday to protest the increase in VAT of petrol & diesel and demanding early announcement of dates for the Panchayat elections in the State. Addressing media persons State Congress president Pradeep Balmuchu said that the Party would press for these demands including early disbursement of harvest insurance to the farmers. He added that workers of the Party from all the districts will arrive in the capital to participate in the dharna.

|| P. Vijay Raghavan ||
Ranchi: The very mention of red ants normally sends chill down the spine of everyone, well, almost. Believe it or not these dreaded insects are actually a delicacy for certain tribes in rural Jharkhand.

In the adivasi infested areas of Jharkhand, summer is eagerly awaited. The Munda/Birhor tribes crowd up the local ‘bazar’ to buy the pick of red ants on sale. Most of the vendors neatly wrap the ‘delicacy’ in leaves and cover it up with paper. The price ranges from anywhere between Rs.4 to Rs.8 per packet depending on the freshness.

These ants are normally found on the branches of Mango, Mahua and Sakua trees. This is the flowering season on these trees and the red insects are in abundance. The vendor is expert enough to know exactly where to look for them. The branch itself is sliced off containing these ant nests with the ants as well as their eggs intact. The vendor always has the ‘first’ taste and eats them alive. The tangy sweet taste of the delicacy invigorates him for the day’s pickings.

The tribals cook these ants in the bazaar itself on the leaf in which it is sold and consume it with their fill of ‘hadia’, the local brew. The delicacy is relished by one and all. After the ‘party’ it is time for the afternoon siesta beneath the cool comfort of the trees.

There are dozens of vendors lined up to sell this product and hundreds of buyers queuing up to buy it. Says Ashok Kumar, a regular customer, the tangy taste mixed with the subtle sweetness proves as a energizer for me. He confesses that he has been enjoying this delicacy for more than two decades now.

Chota Rai Munda from a village in Khunti district has been in this ‘business’ for more than thirty years and says that while plucking these ants from their branches he has never been bitten by these insects even once all these years. He boasts of the fact that he is an expert at locating the best spots where these ants are in abundance. He rues the fact that now more and more youngsters from the village are lured to this trade and offer stiff competition to his aging bones.

Ram Singh Munda, another vendor states that for the ailing persons in the village, the delicacy is a refreshing for changing the taste of their fever foul mouth.